commercial careers

cems career fair

budapest 2011
let’s build
a better
energy
future
energy for a changing world

global energy demand is rising and so are consumer expectations – more

people want energy from cleaner sources. at Shell we are unlocking new
energy sources and squeezing more from what we have. with others we
are finding ways to lower our emissions and helping customers to do the
same with theirs. in building a better energy future we all have a part to
play.

we need ambitious people like you to help us tackle the challenge. join a
company that values diversity, and gives you training, support and career
choices to develop your potential.

“A career in Shell is a world of opportunities and exciting challenges:

the wide variety of functions will allow you to design the career path
that best fits your profile. In this process of planning, you will always
get the support of most senior colleagues who will advise you based on
their experience.” Gianpaolo – Global Marcoms Manager

“You should be aware that oil and gas production/processing,

of course, is the most important part of Shell’s daily business but
sustainable development is considered as equally important. Therefore,
projects you might get involved in can deal with hydrogen, biofuels and
renewables. This is what happened to me and it makes the job very
diverse and interesting.“ Marc – Financial Advisor
 Downstream: Refines, supplies, trades and ships
Areas of our business ■
crude oil worldwide; manufactures and markets
a range of products; and produces petrochemicals
■ Upstream International: Searches for and for industrial customers.
recovers crude oil and natural gas internationally.
■ Projects and Technology: Manages delivery of
Often in joint ventures with international and
Shell’s major projects and drives the research
national oil companies.
and innovation to create technology solutions.
■ Upstream Americas (US, Canada, Latin
■ Corporate Functions: Includes Finance, Legal,
America): Searches for and recovers crude oil
Human Resources, Safety & Environment,
and natural gas in the Americas region, often
Contracting & Procurement, IT, Government
in joint ventures with international and national oil
Relations, CO2 and Sustainable Development.
companies.
our business

a c d

b
J

k
m
f

p
H
n
p
l
m
g
o cHemical
i products
used for
nPlastics
p
nCoatings
Detergents
n

refined oil
o products
n Fuels
gas and n Lubricants
electricity n Bitumen

n Industrial use n Liquefied

upstream downstream Domestic use
n
petroleum gas
a Exploring for oil and gas J Refining oil into fuels and lubricants
b Developing fields k Producing petrochemicals
c Producing oil and gas l Developing biofuels
d Mining oil sands m Trading
e Extracting bitumen n Supply and distribution
f Liquefying gas by cooling (LNG) o Retail sales
g Regasifying LNG p Business-to-business sales
H Converting gas to liquid products (GTL)
i Generating wind energy
 commercial
career
opportunities
 HR experience.
P Preferred degree.

Roles subject to availability.

Any degree possible with strong

Must have gained IT knowledge.

Must have strong numerical ability
Information Management
Contracting & Procurement
Commercial Upstream
CAREER AREA

Trading
Supply Chain & Distribution
Sales & Marketing
Information Technology/
Human Resources
Finance
DEGREE DISCIPLINE

and finance experience/knowledge.

Accounting

P
Business/Commerce

P
Business Administration (Relevant modules)
Business Information Management
Computer Science
Econometrics

P
Economics
Energy Management
Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Civil)
P
P

Finance
P

Human Resource Management

Information Technology
International Relations
P

Labour & Industrial Relations

Law
Management Information Systems
P

Marketing
COMMERCIAL CAREERS - where you could work

Mathematics
Political Sciences
commercial careers – wHere you could work

Psychology
P

Sales
Social Sciences
Software Engineering
Strategic Management
.

Supply Chain Management (inc Operations & Logistics)

Telecommunications
Transportation, Logistics or Distribution
Any
COMMERCIAL CAREERS WITH SHELL

There is of course much more to our business than engineering and

technical. Whether it’s real time trading worth billions of dollars
or the development of powerful bespoke software platforms, we
need the finest commercial graduates across all our organisations.
We recruit graduates into a variety of commercial areas, including:

Commercial Upstream Finance

Our Businesses operate some of the world’s
largest and most complex projects, often in
extreme environments.
You could be responsible for:
■ New business development
■ Commercial support to existing assets
■ The handling of commercial issues related to
sales
Contracting & Procurement (CP)
CP takes a strategic approach to managing
Shell’s expenditure and suppliers, and supports
our operations and capital projects by delivering
goods and services on time, to the right
specification. Join us in this area
and you will be involved in:
■ Market intelligence
■ Managing supplier relationships
■ Contract bidding and negotiation
■ Developing and delivering procurement
strategies
Working in Finance, you will help deliver world
class performance in one of three main areas.
For example, you could support critical business
decision making, help ensure compliance with
today’s complex regulations in Finance Functional
areas, or achieve greater efficiencies overseeing
simple, standard processes.
You will handle:
■ Financial and variance analysis
■ Capital budgets
■ Opportunity and project evaluation
■ Financial and Investment planning
Human Resources
In building an HR function for the 21st century, we
believe Shell is ahead of the game in expertise
and cost-effective service delivery.
You could be involved in:
■ Developing people through learning and
development
■ People development – teams and individuals
■ Promoting diversity and inclusiveness
■ Attraction and recruitment of new employees
Information Technology
Pursue a career in IT at Shell and you could develop
custom applications or work closely with customers
and colleagues to deliver innovative solutions.
You might specialise in:
■ Global project implementation, e.g. SAP
■ Strategic IT consultancy
■ Pre-sales support and analysis
■ Applications development
■ Project management
Sales & Marketing
Whether in a business-to-business or business-
to-customer environment, help to strengthen our
reputation, build brand awareness and support our
business goals.
That means:
■ Monitoring market developments
■ Implementing marketing plans
■ Developing value propositions for customers
■ Developing and maintaining excellent customer
relationships
Supply & Distribution
Gain exposure to all aspects of our international
distribution and logistical activity – from balancing
supply and demand to liaising with production units.
You will focus on areas such as:
■ Market analysis
■ Contract negotiation
■ Managing risk against cost
■ Optimising distribution channels
Trading
Our trading business buys and sells crude oil,
gas, refined products and chemicals on the world
commodity markets. As a graduate, you will gain an
insight into key business areas, including:
■ “Wet operations”: finding the right vessel for a
particular cargo
■ Contract preparation
■ The trading floor
■ Managing risks
■ Conducting negotiations
how to
join us
graduates

The Process:
Step 1
Apply online on www.shell.com/careers

Your first step will be a generic application for a skill pool in most cases, not a specific job. We have a
talent driven approach which means that we seldom have specific job descriptions but will rather match
your interests with the positions available.
After creating your profile, you will be required to complete three pre-registration questions to assess
eligibility for Student opportunities. The next step is to select the skillpool you wish to apply for, and
then complete the application form, attaching your CV/résumé. Do not forget to mention “CEMS” as a
source.
Once you have submitted the application form and CV/résumé there will be a short questionnaire to
complete.
When Shell has received your completed form and questionnaire, your application will then be available
for consideration.

“Although grades are important, definitely include information about

what you have done next to your studies. Don’t forget: Shell is looking
for people who are eager to learn and show initiative.“
Meenakshi – Territory Manager

“Document in your application experiences where you played a key role

and ask yourself open questions: How? What? Why? You should be
ready to answer those questions also in the interview.”
Gianpaolo – Global Marcoms Manager
 CV Checklist

■ Include your achievements – all experiences count, whether paid, voluntary or shadowing. Focus
on your responsibilities and achievements in the role and remember to highlight what your
contributions were, where skills were used or developed and the outcomes.
■ Don't make general statements about your qualities. Make sure you can support your statements
with evidence.
■ Try to link your skills and experience to the requirements of the job you are applying for.
■ Beware of exaggerating your achievements.
■ Do not have unexplained gaps in your work history.

Step 2
After a successful screening of your CV you will be forwarded to interview.

We’ll let you know whether you’ll be invited to the interview stage approximately two weeks after
receiving your completed application.
The interview will be a 45 min. structured interview and will take place either face-to-face or over the
telephone. We’ll be assessing how you perform against our CAR criteria. This is an opportunity for you
to tell us more about your achievements, the challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve demonstrated the
qualities we’re looking for.

“Try to apply your ‘helicopter view’ when required: ensure

that you explain clearly the full picture before entering into the
eventual details. Support all your statements with data coming
from tangible experiences.”
Gianpaolo – Global Marcoms Manager
 Interview Tips

■ Structure your answers – background, objectives, what you did, who else was involved, what
was the outcome.
■ Ask for clarification if you do not understand a question.
■ Don’t be afraid to ask for time to think.
■ Be prepared.
■ Be yourself.
■ Ask for feedback.

Step 3
Internship and Shell Recruitment Day (SRD)

If you’re successful at your interview, we’ll let you know when you’ll be invited to our Shell Recruitment
Day. This is our chance to see you in action in a variety of different work scenarios. We’ll be assessing
how well you demonstrate the key competencies (CAR) we’re looking for.

You’ll be joined on the SRD by up to six other candidates and four assessors who’ll be observing
individual performances.

The day will last for eight hours, including time for lunch, refreshment breaks and preparation, and you’ll
undertake three key exercises:
■ A Case Study
■ A Group Discussion
■ A Business Scenario Interview

“Keep in mind that the assessment is not a

competition with other applicants. It is not
important to outshine others, rather show your
ability for teamwork whereby you leverage the
strengths of others.“
Koen – Project Analyst
 “Ask for qualitative feedback from your line manger and your colle-
agues. This will help you to identify your areas for improvement and
work on them. Don’t hesitate to ask for any help or advice from people
around you. And not less important, have fun!”
Tatyana – Finance Advisor Manufacturing

Assessed Internship Programme

Think of our internships as a crash course in what it’s like to work for one of the world’s most forward
thinking energy companies. This is not work experience; this is working for Shell, on real projects
specifically matched to your interests and abilities.
Lasting anywhere from eight weeks and twelve months, our internships are not only paid, they’ll also
give you invaluable exposure and experience at Shell.
As one of our Interns, you’ll benefit from regular and structured performance evaluation from your
Mentor and direct Supervisor. You’ll also receive direct feedback to help you to enhance your strengths
and build on any areas for development.

As your internship will be fully assessed against real tasks and targets, we gain a very rounded view of
your skills and capabilities. Succeed in your internship and you could be offered a full-time position at
Shell when you graduate. Shell Internships are designed to help you:

■ Put into practice theories and concepts learned in the classroom.

■ Discover the strengths and development areas of your work-related skills, through constructive
evaluation and supervision.
■ Improve general business competencies, including communication, teambuilding, organizational,
problem-solving and analytical skills.
■ Develop exposure to the energy industry and related issues.
■ Build valuable networks for future career options.

Please note that any offer of an internship will be conditional upon you having the
legal right to work in that location.
PROFESSIONALS
Do you already have several years of work experience and are you looking for a new
challenge?

Job Search
The first step towards joining Shell as a Professional is to look through our current job vacancies from
around the world listed on our career pages.

Apply
Once you find a vacancy that interests you, apply via the online application form. Within 48 hours,
you’ll receive confirmation that we have received your completed application.
We’ll let you know if you will be invited to an interview within two weeks.
If you don’t find a suitable opportunity, you can also submit your résumé/CV to be matched for future
opportunities as they arise. Alternatively, you can register to receive Job Alerts via email.

Interview
If your application is successful, you’ll then be invited to an interview within approximately two weeks
from your application. The interview will typically take 45 minutes to an hour. This will take place either
face-to-face or over the telephone and we’ll be assessing your experience against our CAR criteria and
the criteria listed in the job description. At the end of the interview, you’ll have the chance to ask us
some questions of your own – about the role, the culture, work environment or any other area of interest
to you.

Final Assessment
If you’re successful at your interview, we’ll invite you to undertake a Final Assessment within
approximately three weeks after your interview.
The assessment can take up to four hours and comprise a number of steps:
■ a case study discussion,
■ a scenario exercise

■ and an interview.

At the end, you again have a further opportunity to engage with us to get more insight into the position,
reward and benefits, and the offer-making process.
We’ll endeavour to notify you of the outcome of the Final Assessment within a few days after the
event, although this can take longer in some markets.

Please note that all the timings given above are average times for each step in the process.
However, if many applications have to be processed each step can also take longer.
 What
we look
for
What we look for in our people
Whatever role you play within Shell, there are certain qualities and attributes we look for in our people.
These key selection criteria are summed up as Capacity, Achievement, Relationship (CAR).

Taking the time to ensure you effectively communicate evidence of the CAR qualities in your CV will
not only help to make your application more successful but also help prepare you for the interview and
subsequent stages in the assessment process.

Capacity
■ Are you able to provide evidence of identifying, gathering and analysing multiple sources of
information?
■ Do you have experience of understanding the strategic context in which an organization operates
and being able to reach informed conclusions through broad thinking?
■ Have you produced solutions to a problem based on information from a variety of sources?
■ Are you familiar with working with incomplete or conflicting data and taking well calculated risks?

Achievement
■ Can you demonstrate a personal motivation to consistently achieve results by setting targets,
monitoring progress and dealing with setbacks?
■ Are you skilled in working by yourself as well as in a team environment – can you provide evidence
of this?
■ You should be practised in identifying opportunities to learn and develop, and demonstrating an
awareness of personal strengths and development areas.
■ Do you take on new and unfamiliar tasks?

Relationships
■ Can you give examples of communicating honestly and interacting respectfully with a wide range
of people?
■ Have you been in situations where you have had to influence people through tailoring communication
style appropriately?
■ Treating others with respect and appreciating the value of involving people with different viewpoints
and styles is essential within Shell.
■ Exposure to different cultures and environments is also important – can you demonstrate knowledge
in this area?
 What
we offer
What we offer

There are plenty of ways Shell can help you TO get more out of your
career. As well as the chance to tackle one of the most important
challenges the world faces, You will enjoy ongoing opportunities
to develop your career, and a benefits package that ranks among
the best in the industry.

Your Development
When you arrive, we’ll find you a Buddy who can answer your questions and help you get
settled. We’ll also identify a personal mentor who can help you decide what you want from
your career and how best to apply yourself. And you will have regular appraisals with your
line manager. Like all our new graduates, you will have a thorough induction and will get to
experience Shell Life – a course designed to develop your leadership potential. The course helps
you reflect on your personal direction and qualities you need to reach the highest levels within
the business. By moving through a series of real jobs, you will develop a broad base of practical
experience. And depending on your role and location, you will also have a number of training
opportunities, which could include working towards a professional qualification.

Your Package
We’ll start you off on a competitive salary and, depending on your performance, you may earn
bonuses on top. Benefits include a pension and healthcare and, in some locations, subsidised
services such as sports facilities, dental care and the chance to join a sharesave programme. We
provide flexible working patterns wherever possible and you may also be able to work remotely.
We also offer a competitive annual leave entitlement and will do our best to accommodate
career breaks and sabbaticals wherever feasible.

“As a CEMS student you also get a possibility to

get in touch with a CEMS alumni, who is working
for Shell and ask him/her any job/career specific
questions at any stage of your application.”
Tatyana – Finance Analyst Manufacturing
Curious?

If you’d like to get a more personal insight into the experience of a life and career at Shell, drop by our
stand or join our case study at the careers fair in Budapest and meet some of our CEMS Graduates and
Professionals already enjoying their time with us.

Gianpaolo
Global Marketing Communications Manager – Shell Lubricants
University: Bocconi / HEC
CEMS year: 2000
Date of joining Shell: 03.2003

Koen
Finance advisor for Turnaround Projects
University: Rotterdam School of Management /University of Economics Prague
CEMS year: 2008
Date of joining Shell: 05.2010

Ilonka
Internal Auditor
University: Rotterdam School of Management / University St. Gallen
CEMS year: 2001
Date of joining Shell: 03.2008

Tatyana
Finance Advisor Manufacturing
University: University of Cologne / Copenhagen Business School
CEMS year: 2007
Date of joining Shell: 12.2008
 “Be concrete and explicit in your achievements e.g.
If you have been doing an intern role as let’s say
a marketer, tell about the size of your market, the
number of people you reached, what goals you
achieved.” Jitse – Internal Auditor

Meenakshi
Territory Manager
University: Rotterdam School of Management / University of Sidney
CEMS year: 2011
Date of joining Shell: 08.2011

Marc
Financial Advisor
University: University College Dublin / University of Vienna
CEMS year: 2011
Date of joining Shell: 08.2011

Jitse
Internal Auditor
University: University College Dublin / University of Cologne
CEMS year: 2009
Date of joining Shell: 2009

www.shell.com/careers cems@shell.com
Contact us:

Don’t forget to email us a short note at

cems@shell.com to ensure that we can track
your application within our system or to answer
any questions.

www.shell.com/careers
Shell is an equal opportunity employer